John Fitzpatrick – Written by Susie de Monchaux
John “Fitz” Fitzpatrick ran a plumbing and ironwork business on the corner of Ford and Sylvester Street, Coolgardie from 1896 to 1900.
John Fitzpatrick
Family legend tells that John Fitzpatrick was born in South Australia in 1861, however, it was in Western Australia where he made his life. He was a plumber and tinsmith. In 1883, Fitzpatrick married Elizabeth White, aged 21 years, at St Patrick’s Church, Adelaide. By 1888 they had moved to Fremantle where their first child, Mary, was born. The next move was to Perth. There, in 1893, a son was born. His name was John, (known as Jim).
The discovery of gold drew Fitzpatrick to the booming town of Coolgardie. In 1896 he arrived from Perth with his wife, Elizabeth, and two children, Mary and John. His second daughter, Beatrice was born in Coolgardie.
Promptly Fitzpatrick started up Fitzpatrick, Earle & Hartness. Plumbers, Tinsmiths, and Galvanized Iron Workers. For four years the business remained on the corner of Ford and Sylvester Streets. Advertisements in the Coolgardie Miner read, “All Descriptions of Plumbing and Iron Work Done” and “Tanks and fireplaces for sale”. And just months after setting up in Coolgardie the production of ice chests began, as recorded in the Coolgardie Miner, 29th September 1896.
Coolgardie Pioneer 19 December 1896, page 14
Coolgardie Miner, 29th September 1896.
‘The mark of progress is making very rapid strides in Coolgardie, and every day our attention is drawn to some new industries or other being opened up. Amongst the latest new industries to be started here is that of ice-chest making. A representative of the ‘Miner’ on Saturday last visited the workshop of Messrs. Fitzpatrick, Earle, and Hartness, and was shown several ice chests, made to order for a local publican. The chests are constructed of galvanised iron, are double cased, and packed with sawdust and chaff; there are four compartments and the ice box which is placed in the centre of the chest, is so constructed that by means of a tap it distributes the ice-water over the bottles in the lower compartments. As these are invaluable to restaurants as well as to hotels, the manufacturers will, no doubt, be kept very busy fulfilling orders for the ensuing summer’
By 1899 Fitzpatrick was in a new partnership with Mr. Vickerman on the Ford and Sylvester Street site. However, by 1901 Fitzpatrick & Vickerman, Plumbers were no longer listed in The Western Australian Post Office Directory.
Two more children were born in Coolgardie to John and Elizabeth, Gertrude and Leonard. Tragically, between 1899 and 1901, his wife, Elizabeth, and these two youngest children died. Elizabeth died of Pneumonia and exhaustion on the 23rd July 1899 and is buried in the RC section. Gertrude died on 12th Feb 1900 from Marasmus (Failure to thrive probably due to feeding problems). I have not been able to find the cause of death for Leonard. Leonard and Gertrude are buried in a separate grave to their mother but together, they are also in the RC section of the Coolgardie Cemetery.
Elizabeth Fitzpatrick – Coolgardie Cemetery – Photo Danelle Warnock
Without his wife, John Fitzpatrick was unable to look after his children (my grandmother told me this). So, Fitzpatrick arranged for the three eldest children to be cared for by the Sisters of Mercy at St Anthony’s Convent, Coolgardie.
At that time the convent was the only boarding school in the goldfields. They remained there for all their schooling. The children would have been present at the Opening Ceremony of the new convent in 1903.
In about 1906 Mary took vows and became a Sisters of Mercy nun. Mary’s religious name was Sister Mary Anthony.
Sr. Mary Anthony remained at the Coolgardie convent most of her life. Her duties included nursing and housekeeping.
Jim left Coolgardie and worked as a teamster in Wagin. In 1915 he enlisted in the army, and eighteen months later Jim, aged twenty-two was killed in action in France. He is buried in Warlencourt British Cemetery, France.
Beatrice’s progress through her school years can be traced in the Coolgardie Miner. The newspaper reported her success in music exams, violin recitals, and drama performances at the Convent’s Christmas concerts.
It is unknown what year John Fitzpatrick left Coolgardie. However, by 1905 he had settled in Geraldton and started a plumbing business with Nicholas Margetic. The business was called J. Fitzpatrick & Co. Located on Eleanor Street this business was very successful and became one of the largest plumbing firms in Geraldton.
The advertisement in Geraldton Express 7 January 1916, page 1
John made a second marriage to Emily Mills in Geraldton in 1911, which was not a happy one, and only lasted a year. Beatrice left school in 1914 and moved to Geraldton. In 1916 Beatrice was with her father when they heard the news of Jim’s death on the battlefields in France. Beatrice’s musical accomplishments were often reported in the Geraldton Guardian. Later she settled in Perth, working as a musician.
When Yugoslav migrant Nicholas Margetic went into partnership with tinsmith James Fitzpatrick in Geraldton
in 1906, it was probably beyond the wildest dreams of both men that this partnership of J.Fitzpatrick & Co
would eventually become Geraldton’s leading plumbing company.
Some of J.Fitzpatrick & Co staff and their sons pose in front of the showroom building completed in 1918 with several smaller items made in the plumbing firm’s workshop at the rear of the large Chapman Road block, originally 171 Eleanor Street, Geraldton. Extract from a story by Neville Thompson 2014
Fitzpatrick standing with his staff. He is the large man wearing a suit and hat, standing seventh from the left.
Neville Thompson, grandson of Nicholas Margetic, recently wrote an article, Tinsmith formed premier plumbing partnership, published in the Geraldton Guardian, on 8th January 2019. This account contains memories and personal information from both the Margetic and Fitzpatrick families and records a story of the strong business relationship, as well as the close friendship the two families shared. Their homes stood adjacent to each other, and Fitzpatrick joined the Margetic family for meals.
Thompson records Fitzpatrick as a “…big man of calm demeanor and always wore a suit if going to town or visiting”. Norm Margetic (son of Nicholas Margetic) also remembered Fitzpatrick wearing a suit on the family’s Sunday drives in the company’s 1925 Overland sedan. Norm and Fitzpatrick would always ride in the back together.
A pre-decimal currency display of gas, slow combustion, and wood stoves in the showroom of J.Fitzpatrick & Co, the Thermett gas stove on the left is available for nine pounds deposit and fourteen shillings weekly. Extract from a story by Neville Thompson 2014
On retirement, Fitzpatrick sold his shares to the Margetic’s. J. Fitzpatrick & Co continued as a successful business for many decades. John Fitzpatrick moved to Perth to be near his daughter, Beatrice. John Fitzpatrick was knocked down by a motor car and died from his injuries in 1939, aged 78. He is buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, Karrakatta, Perth. His daughters, Mary and Beatrice are buried next to him.
West Australian 15 June 1939, page 14
References
Fitzpatrick/de Monchaux Family, Sydney, NSW. Family stories.
Fitzpatrick/de Monchaux Family, Sydney, NSW. Photographs.
Margetic Family, Geraldton, WA. Family stories
The Western Australian Directory. Coolgardie (1896-1900). Geraldton (1906-1940).
Articles found on Trove:
Tu 29 Sep 1896-The Coolgardie Miner (W.A. 1894-1911) Page 6. Local and General (Ice chests)
Sat 6 Jan 1900-The W.A. Record (1888-1922) Page 4 – St. Mary’s School, Coolgardie. (Coolgardie Miner, Dec.21). (Concert in connection for break-up for the Christmas holidays).
Sat 9 Jan 1904-The W.A. Record (1888-1922) Page 4 – Convent of Mercy, Coolgardie. (Distribution of Prizes, Miss Beattie Fitzpatrick, prize for tables.)
Mon 22 Aug 1910-The Daily News (Perth, WA: 1888-1950) Page 9 – Elementary Division-Pianoforte
Fri 1 Aug 1913 – The Geraldton Express (WA: 1906-1919) Page 1 – Advertising. Fitzpatrick & Co., Plumbers & Tinsmiths
Thu 26 Nov 1914 -Geraldton Guardian (WA: 1906-1928) Page 2 – Personal Items. Miss Beatrice Fitzpatrick daughter of Mr. John Fitzpatrick, Geraldton recently passed an examination…
Thompson, N. (2014). I remember when…The story of J. Fitzpatrick & Co. Library Archives of Greater Geraldton, WA
Thompson, N. (2018). John Fitzpatrick. Library Archives of Greater Geraldton, WA
Thompson, N. (8 January, 2019. Page 4). Tinsmith formed premier plumbing partnership. Geraldton Guardian.
Carnamah Historical Society & Museum. Early WA Motor Vehicle Registrations 1915- 1928 page 3. Fitzpatrick & Margetic. (https://www.carnamah.com.au)
Death Certificate of John Fitzpatrick. Government of WA, Department of Justice, Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages.
John Fitzpatrick. Summary of Record Information, Karrakatta, Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, Perth WA
Larment, L. Jones, M, Jones, S. Lorriaine’s Burial Records. Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth. 18 July 1899. Aged 37 years. www.ozburials.com/CemsWA/Coolgardie/coolgardie.htm
A Special Representative. (1979, October 16). I remember, says Sister Anthony… The Western Australian.
Sisters of Mercy Heritage Centre, Perth, WA. Record of Mary Theresa Fitzpatick’s (Sr. Mary Anthony) years as a Sister of Mercy.
Mary Theresa Fitzpatrick. Summary of Record Information, Karrakatta, Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, Perth WA
National Archives of Australia. NAA: B2455, Fitzpatrick JJ (Army-World War I: 1914-18/naa.gav.au)
Commonwealth Graves Commission. Corporal Fitzpatrick, John James. Died Between 16/11/1916 and 18/11/1916. 28th Bn. Australian Infantry, A.I.F. Warlencourt British Cemetery, France.
Beatrice Fitzpatrick. Summary of Record Information, Karrakatta, Metropolitan Cemeteries Board.
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